Introduction
Having a Critical Skills Visa is life-changing for professionals who want to establish and build their careers in South Africa, or for those looking for new opportunities to broaden their skills and experience. Having this visa means that you will play a very important role in building the future and economy of the country. For the Corporate General Manager (referred to as “CGM” for ease of reference), you can climb up the corporate ladder, showcase your skills and experience whilst improving the economy of the country. Therefore, the removal of this category in the proposed critical skills list is of serious concern for qualifying applicants, who would ordinarily apply for this visa as senior management in businesses.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN NOT TO HAVE A CRITICAL SKILLS VISA AS A CORPORATE GENERAL MANAGER?
The CGM is one of the categories that has been eliminated from the proposed critical skills list. However, under the current critical skills list, this category is still applicable, and should one qualify, they can apply for the visa but because it has been omitted in the proposed list, naturally this would make a potential candidate nervous to apply, for fear of the proposed list coming into operation before submission or even finalisation of the application and the possibility of a negative outcome as a result thereof.
Not applying for the Critical Skills Visa as a CGM means that you will miss on this opportunity of having a visa that allows you to operate in SA and showcase your skills whilst contributing to the economy. Should the new list be passed, and the CGM category remains excluded, it means that you have limited opportunities for a critical skills visa application as senior management in businesses, which in turn will hinder on your progress for career growth and development in South Africa.
Therefore, if you qualify for the Critical Skills Visa as a CGM, and you either do not yet have a visa yet, are due for an extension, or need to change conditions of your existing visa, now is the time to apply before the proposed list is implemented.
THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A CRITICAL SKILLS VISA AS A CGM:
- You may be issued with the visa for 12 months to secure a job within the relevant category.
- The visa can be issued for a maximum period of 5 years immediately.
- It can be the gateway to obtaining South African permanent residency.
- Your spouse and dependent children will be issued with the relevant visas valid for a period that coincides with the period of your Critical Skills Visa.
THE STORY OF MM
MM (real name withheld) approached us requiring assistance with a Critical Skills Visa application. She qualified for a Critical Skills Visa as a CGM based on her skills, qualifications, and experience. However, at the time her application preparation was complete and ready for submission, the draft list was published. Naturally, she was anxious given that she was applying as a Corporate General Manager, which had been eliminated in the proposed list. Upon our advice, guidance, and re-assurance that the current critical skills list of June 2014 is still operational, and that she could still submit her visa application based on this current list, she proceeded to submit her visa application. Within a month, her application had been approved and to her delight, she had been granted the Critical Skills Work Visa to work as a Corporate General Manager for a period of five years!
She is a very happy client and can now focus on her work without having to worry about visa renewals for the next five years. In fact, she is looking forward to applying for permanent residency once the system allows her to do so.
Now, had she omitted to take action based on her fears and anxiety, and not submitted her application for a Critical Skills Visa because the category that she qualifies under is not in the proposed list, she would have missed on this great opportunity to get a five-year visa which not only allows her to work in a SA with a complete peace of mind, but also gives her access to career growth and opportunities to further her career as well as long-term residency for her family.
To see if you qualify for a Critical Skills Visa as a Corporate General Manager, please click on the link below and provide us with your information. One of our consultants will call you for a quick assessment.
